A Egyptian conference of Muslim scholars from around the world
declared female circumcision to be contrary to Islam and an attack
on women, and called today for those who practice it to be
punished.

The conference, organised by the German human rights group
TARGET, recommended that governments pass laws to prohibit the
tradition and that judicial bodies prosecute those who mutilate
female genitals.

"The conference appeals to all Muslims to stop practicing this
habit, according to Islam's teachings which prohibit inflicting
harm on any human being," the participants said in their final
statement.

Egypt's two top Islamic clerics, Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, the
Grand Sheik of Al-Azhar, the foremost theological institute in the
Sunni Muslim world, and Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, attended the
conference, which drew scholars from as far afield as Russia.

Tantawi's and Gomaa's edicts are considered binding.

Female circumcision, which involves cutting the clitoris,
continues to be practiced in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa as
well as Egypt, Yemen and Oman, despite numerous campaigns against
it.

Those men who support the tradition believe it lowers a girl's
sexual desire and helps maintain her honour. They also believe it
is required by Islam.

The scholars said circumcision inflicts physical and mental harm
on women. Furthermore, they said, Islam considers it to be an
aggression against women. Those who perform it should be
punished.

"The conference reminds all teaching and media institutions of
their role to explain to the people the harmful effects of this
habit in order to eliminate it," the scholars said in their
recommendations.

"The conference calls on judicial institutions to issue laws
that prohibit and criminalise this habit ... which appeared in
several societies and was adopted by some Muslims although it is
not sanctioned by the Quran or the Sunna," the scholars said,
referring to Islam's holy book and the sayings and deeds of Prophet
Muhammad.

Although many countries have outlawed female circumcision, the
law is poorly enforced and prosecutions are rare.

In the 1950s, the Egyptian government tried to stop midwives
from performing the custom, while allowing doctors to do so -
fearing that otherwise families who insisted on circumcising their
daughters would have the operation carried out in unsafe
conditions. But in 1996, the health minister imposed a total ban on
the practice.